Brian Burns

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Wrote about the great Laura King!

New Durham venue Stanczyks Music Bar aims to bring live music back to West Main Street Stanczyks Music Bar quietly opened on West Main Street in Durham at the end of 2025. Beginning in March, they'll host local and touring artists.

Stanczyks Music Bar quietly opened on West Main Street in Durham at the end of 2025. Beginning in March, they'll host local and touring artists.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

All Day Records opens second shop in Pittsboro Carrboro-based All Day Records has opened a second location in Pittsboro.

Carrboro-based All Day Records has opened a second location in Pittsboro.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

16 notable 2025 releases from North Carolina artists WUNC music reporter Brian Burns picks 16 albums you should know from North Carolina based artists from 2025.

Looking to catch up on the year in NC music? WUNC music reporter Brian Burns picks 16 albums you should know from North Carolina based artists from 2025.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Brian Burns top 12 albums of 2025 WUNC music reporter Brian Burns picks his top 12 albums of 2025.

Need a rundown of this year's best records? Our music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social has you covered.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

"Forever" collects the final recordings of Triangle legend Reese McHenry On March 6 Reese McHenry's final recordings will be released on an album called "Forever."

The Triangle music scene recently lost one of its brightest stars to a rare soft tissue cancer.

Now, Reese McHenry's final recordings will be released in a posthumous album by the Chapel Hill based Suah Sounds.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Stormie Daie is Durham drag royalty Raafe Purnsley, better known as Stormie Daie, has spent the last decade-plus as one of the most beloved drag performers and educators in Durham.

Raafe Purnsley, better known as Stormie Daie, has spent the last decade-plus as one of the most beloved drag performers and educators in Durham.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Greenville native Petey Pablo says border patrol used his "Raise Up" anthem without permission On Sunday, as ICE agents began their descent on Charlotte, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino posted a video that contained Petey Pablo's anthem "Raise Up" without the artist's permission.

On Sunday, as ICE agents began their descent on Charlotte, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino posted a video that contained Petey Pablo's anthem "Raise Up" without the artist's permission.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Wrote about the closing of PS37.

Spotlight on Scott Nurkin 🔦

Dante High takes a final bow Ari Picker of Dante High catches up with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns ahead of the band's final show on November 1.

Ari Picker of Dante High catches up with @brianburns.bsky.social ahead of the band's final show on November 1 at Cat's Cradle.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

At ADULTING you'll dance all night and be in bed by 11 ADULTING is an early evening dance party in Durham where people can "dance all night" and "be in bed by 11."

ADULTING is an early evening dance party in Durham where people can "dance all night" and "be in bed by 11."

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Don Was assembles The Pan-Detroit Ensemble Legendary producer and musician Don Was chats with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns ahead of his show with the Pan-Detroit Ensemble at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on October 17.

Legendary producer and musician Don Was chats with @brianburns.bsky.social ahead of his show with the Pan-Detroit Ensemble at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Oct. 17.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Sven Wunder takes us across the ocean on "Daybreak" WUNC music reporter Brian Burns chats with Swedish composer and producer Sven Wunder ahead of his show at The Ritz in Raleigh on Friday, October 10.

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns chats with Swedish composer and producer Sven Wunder ahead of his show with rapper Freddie Gibbs at The Ritz in Raleigh on Friday, October 10.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Kym Register and the legacy of The Pinhook For the past 17 years Kym Register has owned The Pinhook, one of Durham's most esteemed clubs.

For the past 17 years Kym Register has owned The Pinhook, one of Durham's most esteemed clubs. WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social recently sat down with Register to talk about the history of the club and what came before it.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Nilüfer Yanya puts on her dancing shoes WUNC music reporter Brian Burns catches up with singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya ahead of her show at The Ritz on October 6.

Ahead of her show at The Ritz on Monday, Nilüfer Yanya talks with @brianburns.bsky.social about her new EP, "Dancing Shoes."

"There's a parallel between the theory of method acting and the way I see my life enmeshed with music and writing and being on stage."

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Pachyman and the pursuit of dub WUNC music reporter Brian Burns catches up with dub musician Pachyman ahead of his show at Motorco Music Hall on October 5.

Pachy Garcia, better known as Pachyman, is a modern day student of the founders of dub reggae.

WUNC's Brian Burns spoke to him ahead of his show at Motorco Music Hall on Oct. 5.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

The subtle differences between old-time and bluegrass music To the casual listener, old-time and bluegrass might be hard to tell apart. Both genres of music predominantly feature stringed instruments like fiddles and banjos, and while there are differences, th...

As Raleigh Wide Open kicks off this evening, WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social talks with local musicians to help explain the difference between old-time and bluegrass music.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Kassa Overall flips your favorite hip hop classics on his new record "Cream" Drummer and producer Kassa Overall chats with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns about his new album "Cream."

Drummer and producer Kassa Overall chats with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns about his new album "Cream" ahead of his performances at Missy Lane's Assembly Room on Sept. 18-19.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

my latest comic featuring the excellent insights of @brianburns.bsky.social is for those of you planning to get DOWN💥 at Hopscotch this weekend

as a relatively recent NC transplant, I'll say that making this comic with Brian def is encouraging me to use the festival as a way to discover local bands

Comic: How WUNC's Brian Burns prepares to get the most out of Hopscotch The Hopscotch Festival returns to Raleigh for its 15th anniversary this week, featuring My Morning Jacket, Earl Sweatshirt and many local and national acts. In this illustrated guide, WUNC's music rep...

Are you ready for Hopscotch this weekend?

WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social shares in this comic by @elichen.bsky.social how he's gearing up to get the most out of the three-day festival in downtown Raleigh.

www.wunc.org/arts-culture...

Trump's tariffs take a toll on North Carolina instrument shops Many local businesses are dealing with the ramifications of Trump's tariffs on international goods. Stores that sell musical instruments are being hit particularly hard.

"I've seen a starter guitar that was $199 last Christmas go up to $259," said a co-owner of Harry's Guitar Shop in Raleigh.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

New documentary spotlights Raleigh institution The Great Cover Up

The Great Cover Up, which started in 1999, is an annual event in Raleigh that features an eclectic lineup of local musicians performing cover sets of more famous artists.

Now, it's the subject of a new documentary that premieres Thursday on PBS North Carolina.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Ron Liberti and the art of the show poster WUNC music reporter Brian Burns get to know Triangle-based visual artist and musician Ron Liberti.

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns gets to know Triangle-based visual artist and musician Ron Liberti.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Young refugees start hot meals operation to help feed public housing residents displaced by Chantal A group of mostly young Asian refugees are cooking meals for families whose homes at a public housing community on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill were flooded earlier this month due to Tropical Stor...

A group of mostly young Asian refugees are cooking meals for families whose homes at a public housing community on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill were flooded earlier this month due to Tropical Storm Chantal.

www.wunc.org/race-class-c...

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this is North Carolina service journalism

MJ Lenderman on his all-star season and crashing into Durham's 'can opener' bridge (on purpose) North Carolina musician MJ Lenderman chats with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns about the Hopscotch Music Festival, making a music video with Lance Bangs and more.

Ahead of his show at DPAC on Wednesday night, North Carolina musician MJ Lenderman chats with WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social about the Hopscotch Music Festival, making a music video with Lance Bangs and more.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

The Head and the Heart look inward on their latest album "Aperture" Ahead of The Head and the Heart's performance tonight at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, band co-founder Jon Russell talks about their latest album "Aperture" and their work to raise funds for arts e...

Ahead of The Head and the Heart's performance tonight at Red Hat in Raleigh, band co-founder Jon Russell chats with @brianburns.bsky.social about their latest album "Aperture" and their work to raise funds for arts education.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...